Reporter jumps ranks at KVBC-TV

In a move that left some staff members wondering if more shoes might soon be dropping, KVBC-TV, Channel 3 announced it had promoted reporter Dan Ball to the evening anchor desk.

The station made the announcement in a late-afternoon press release Friday, saying Ball, who jumps from the reporter ranks after two years at the station, will be joining veteran KVBC evening anchors Sue Manteris and Jim Snyder.

Unmentioned in the press release was another bit of a shocker: staffers were told Jeff Gillan was no longer anchoring at the station. He was on the 4 p.m. newscast and also working as an assistant news editor. Gillan went to kvbc as managing editor and anchor of "In Business."

The move allows Manteris and Snyder "to continue as the station's primary news anchor, while increasing their ability to fully investigate and report on their popular franchises," the press release said.

Ball's promotion and Gillan's departure was the station's fourth anchor move in six months. In November Kendall Tenney was not renewed after 14 years and Sophia Choi, who co-anchored with Gillan, had her contract severed last week with six months remaining.

"Everyone's waiting for the next announcement," said a KVBC insider, "and most people think it's going to be Paula Francis (KLAS-TV, Channel 8 evening anchor) coming here."

Francis reportedly has a big fan in KVBC news director Bob Stoldal, a local broadcasting legend who had a 36-year tenure at KLAS before retiring in the summer of 2008. After sitting out one year because of a non-compete clause, he joined rival KVBC last August and the NBC affiliate has been making dramatic personel changes ever since.

The station noted that Ball started his TV career at age 18 while in the U.S. Air Force as a combat journalist reporting overseas for the Armed Forces Radio and Television Service. Career stops during his 17 years of experience include TV jobs in Philadelphia, Michigan, Germany, Iceland and California.

Calls and or e-mails left for Gillan, KVBC general manager Lisa Howfield and Francis were not returned by deadline.

TARKANIAN FLARE-UP

Danny Tarkanian and KXNT radio talk show host Alan Stock were involved in an altercation Friday night at a Republican gathering.

Tarkanian in an e-mail to Review-Journal political reporter Laura Myers acknowledged the incident, saying that Stock raised his voice when Tarkanian said he was leaving because "they would not let me speak early."

The outburst occurred at Stoney's Rockin' Country on Las Vegas Boulevard South.

Tarkanian, a Republican U.S. Senate candidate, said Stock accused him of lying. Tarkanian said he tried to calm Stock down and put his arm around him, but Stock yelled louder, "Don't touch me."

"I then left Stoney's," Tarkanian said.

SIGHTINGS

NFL star and "Dancing With the Stars" finalist Chad Ochocinco, doing pushups at Tao Beach (Venetian) on Thursday during a break in filming his upcoming reality show "Ochocinco: The Ultimate Catch." ... Nicky Hilton and Olivia Palmero from the reality TV show "The City," walking the red carpet Friday for the grand opening of Thomas Sabo jewelry at The Venetian. ...

THE PUNCH LINE

"Mark Twain was considered the greatest humorist of his age, but that's only because he didn't live at the same time as Carrot Top." -- Craig Ferguson

Norm Clarke can be reached at (702) 383-0244 or norm@reviewjournal.com. Find additional sightings and more online at www.normclarke.com.